East Coast Radio’s 28th Anniversary Celebrates with ‘Every Caller Wins’ Event

On 9 October 2024, East Coast Radio will mark its 28th anniversary in an engaging and generous manner by hosting the ‘Every Caller Wins’ event. The station plans to distribute R430,000 in shopping vouchers from Takealot.com, sparking excitement among listeners residing in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).

The idea is simple yet thrilling: call the station at 089 00 00 327 on Wednesday, 9 October, and if participants manage to connect live on air, they will receive their share of the shopping vouchers. The event is crafted to bring joy to the audience, and the station even provides a humorous ‘sick note’ template for those needing an excuse to participate during working hours.

As explained in the note, symptoms of what they jokingly call ‘Every Caller Wins Syndrome’ include an urgent need to win, with a recommendation for participation in the event as part of the recovery process.

The Breakfast Show’s Executive Producer, WR van der Merwe, shared insights into last year’s successful campaign, emphasizing the sheer joy and surprise captured when lucky callers make it through the phone lines. “I randomly select a line to put callers to air,” he stated, reflecting on the joy expressed by callers eager to connect. “The sound of joy from people who have been trying to get through all morning puts a smile on my face every time.”

Despite the joy, van der Merwe also disclosed the occasional disappointment when callers who make it through do not realize they have succeeded, leading the team to move on to other participants. Recalling memorable moments, van der Merwe mentioned Cindy Ntuli from Pinetown, who participated in Darren Maule’s Quick Quiz and managed to win a pair of high-quality earbuds and a R6,000 voucher despite narrowly missing a question.

The previous event saw five competitions run in tandem alongside ‘Every Caller Wins,’ creating a lively day of activities and unexpected victories for listeners. “Naturally, everyone who made it to air won,” van der Merwe recalled.

Behind the scenes, the team continuously strives to enhance the infrastructure to handle the massive influx of calls. Yet, last year an unexpected issue arose in the Northern Durban area due to the overwhelming volume. “The phones start ringing from midnight,” van der Merwe noted, highlighting the eagerness of participants.

The joy of winning and unexpected surprises has forged unforgettable moments not just for listeners, but for WR and his team as well, as they focus on creating lasting memories for all involved.